System for controlling the speed of a plurality of motors which have output shafts to drive elements that are interrelated

ABSTRACT

A motor control system for a papermaking machine formed of a rectifier and inverter circuit connected between an alternating current source of fixed frequency and a plurality of synchronous motors of the papermaking machine which are to be driven with a frequency which can be varied. A single master oscillator provides a common source for a plurality of divider circuits, each of which are connected to the respective inverter circuit associated with each individual motor. Each divider circuit is formed of a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;runup&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; speed control circuit which enables gradual increase of motor speed, a speed control logic circuit which provides a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;draw&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; control between individual motors, and a polyphase generator to provide a polyphase voltage which is applied to the individual motors. Each speed control logic circuit is variable to control the speed of individual motors, and, consequently, the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;draw&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; between the motors. The master oscillator is variable to control the speed of all motors jointly and concurrently.

United. States Patent RlchardA. Karlin [72] Inventor: v 3,271,649 9/1966 Juergensen 318/376 Wilmette, 111.; Y 3,273,041 9/1966 Strohmeier 321/4 EdgarLJustua, Bdo1t.Wb.;'Leroy H. 3,307,094 2/1967 Ogle 318/227 UX v Husker, Rockton,111. 3,430,123 2/1967 Corry 321/4 1211 Appl. No. 730,825 3,439,242 4/1969 Gasser-. 321/27 UX [22] Filed May 21.1968 3,250,978 5/1966 Moscardi 318/345 [45] Patented Aug. 17. 1971 3,447,050 5/1969 Geis. 318/78 [7 1 a BolohCorp ration OTHER REFERENCES i RyderQJohn P. Engineering Electronics Second Ed., 1957.

i McGrawHlllGr. 211, pp. 360' 361, 397 400. [54 l" SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING THE SPEED OF A Primary Examiner-T. E. Lynch PLURALITY OF MOTORS WHICH HAVE OUTPUT Attorney-Hill. Sherman. Meroni. Gross & Simpson SHAFTS TO DRIVE ELEMENTS THAT ARE INTERRRATED 26Cla1ms,19Draw F i m I i i ABSTRACT: A motor control system for a papermaking [52] 318/67' machine formed of a rectifier and inverter circuit connected 1 318/78 318/85- .3l8/227' 318/230 321/45" between an alternating current eource of fixed frequency and [51] Int. 1 a plurality of aynchronout motors 01 the papermaking [50] Field 01 Search 318/78. 68. machine kh are to b d i with a frequency which can be 7 2303 varied. A single masteroscillator provides a common source 321/4 45 ER for a plurality of divider circuits, each of which are connected [56] R t CM tothe respective inverter circuit associated with each inv dividual motor. Each divider circuit is formed of a "runup" UNITED STATES PATENTS apeed control circuit'whic'h enables gradual increase'of motor 2,077,768 4/1937 Perry 318/78 X speed, a speed control logic circuit which provides a draw 3,064,173 11/1962 Breen.. 318/77 X control between individual motors. and a polyphase generator 3,176,207 3/1965 Wallace 318 /67 to provide a polyphase voltage which is applied to the in- 3,206,664 9/1965 Lilly 318/67 dividual motora. Each speed control logic circuit is variable to 3,262,036 7/1966 Clarkeet a1. 318/230 1 control the speed of individual motoni, and, consequently, the 7 3,343,063 9/1967 Keeney,.1r.et al. 318/171 X dravl'l between the motors. The master oscillator is variable 3.416.057 12/1968 Froyd et a1 318/171 X to control the lpeed of all motors jointly and concurrently.

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sum 0a or 13 lacy/4x0 ,4. KAKU/v EDGAR Jug/v Z for A 505K618 ATTORNEYS msw PATENTEI] AUG] 1 IHTI sum 09 nr 13 HZ ATTORNEYS t and adjustment is provided by the individual frequency dividers connected to each of the motors. Therefore, a need exists for a system wherein the master oscillator is adjustable over a relatively wide frequency range and is connected to a plurality of dividers each of which are also adjustable over a predetermined range and are connected to a respective motor of the processing machine.

In order to provide a master oscillator which overcomes the disadvantages mentioned hereinabove, it has been contemplated to form such a master oscillator section of fixed frequency followed by a master divider, which is in turn followed by a plurality of dividers each connected to a respective motor of the processing machine. Although such a system fulfills the need with respect to maintaining a proper draw between individual stations or sections of a paper machine, it is not as feasible as it may appear at first blush. In order to pro vide the required resolution at both the individual dividers and at the master divider, the fixed frequency oscillator must be of a relatively large frequency in order to provide an output frequency within the range of known synchronous motors. For instance, if the master divider has a resolution of 1:1,000 and the individual dividers have a resolution of l:l0,000, in order to provide an output frequency in the range of 360 hertz, the fixed frequency oscillator must provide an output of 3.6 gigahertz. Therefore, although such a system would overcome some of the disadvantages of the prior art, it is not the most feasible system in practice.

Although some of the above-described systems for driving a paper machine are contemplated by the present invention, a more realistic approach to the solution of the problem is realized by a system wherein a fixed frequency oscillator is connected through a pulse chopper to a plurality of dividers, each connected to a respective motor of the processing machine. By such a system, the fixed frequency oscillator need only pro- -vide an output of 3.6 megahertz in order to achieve a 360 hertz output from the individual dividers. Therefore, this system provides control over the individual motors of the papermaking machine which is highly accurate and which'is void of the disadvantages set forth above.

in those systems which employ individual dividers for each of the machine sections, which dividers are adjustable to vary the speed of the motor associated therewith, difiiculties may arise during the adjusting interval. The usual divider circuit includes. a plurality of binaries having the respective outputs thereof connected to switches. The outputs of the switches are connected'to an AND gate for providing a pulse output upon the occurrence of a simultaneous output from each of the switches. If this pulse output from the AND gate is employed to drive a commutating circuit associated with an inverter anda motor, difficulties may arise if the pulse is sustained over a relatively long period of time or if the pulse does not occur for a relatively long period of time.

Either of these two conditions can exist during adjustment of the switches associated with the divider circuit. For instance, if these switches are of the type which made a complete break while moving from one contact to another, and if a pulse is being supplied at the time when such move ment is being made, an output will not be realized. Because of the relatively high frequencies involved, it is quite possible that an entire group of such output pulses will'be eliminated during the switching processes. Under such conditions, a synchronous motor connected to the inverter willbec ome free running and will probable come out of synchroni'srnand begin operating as an induction motor. With the reoccurrence 'of output pulses, the motor may not return to its synchronous operation and may continue to operate as an induction motor. Furthermore, transients may be produced which may be detrimental to the components of the circuitry.

On the other hand, if the switches connected to the binaries of the divider are of the shorting' type, other difficulties may be encountered. The shorting type of switch is that in which two adjacent contacts make simultaneous connection with the wiper arm of the switch during movement from one contact to the other. During such movement, the two contacts will be shorted together and, depending upon the particular binary to which the switch is connected,"thetwo 'outputs of the binary may be shorted together and to'the inp oftlie's'ubsequent binary stage. Such a condition WI resiiltin erroneous output from the divider circuit, particularly if sustained over any length of time. The greater danger, however, will occur if an output pulse is being delivered during the time that the switches are being changed. Under such a'condition, the output pulse may be sustained over a considerable length of time. If this output pulse is connected to the gate of an SCR, for instance, such an output pulse sustained over a considerable length of time may cause destruction of that SCR and possibly the application of a DC voltage to the windings of the synchronous motor. It is apparent from a consideration of the relative times involved as compared to the frequency at which the system is operating, that a considerable number of difficulties can be encountered by the use of mechanical switches to adjust the output of the divider sections.

-Still another problem associated with these systems, in general, is that of providing a pulse which is of sufficient power to energize the controlled rectifiers in the inverter sections connected to the individual motors. In order to provide good switching conditions in the inverters, a relatively high power trigger pulse must be developed over a predetermined time period in order to saturate the controlled rectifiers within the shortest time possible or to turn the same off within the shortest time possible. If these requirements are not met, it is possible that the controlled rectifiers may cause transients or other spurious voltages which are not desired in the system. Furthennore, if relatively large currents are being handled by the controlled rectifiers, it is possible to destroy the devices if drive the subsequent static inverter which controls the large amounts of current delivered to the individual motors. Such an arrangement, however, greatly increases the complexity and the cost of the system.

When a synchronous motor is operated at a particular frequency, the voltage applied thereto must be maintained at a predetermined level proportional to the frequency. If the frequency applied to the synchronous motor is increased, the level of voltage applied thereto must also be increased to maintain proper operation of the motor. A major difficulty encountered in those systems which employ a plurality of synchronous motors which are driven from a common source and are driven at different rates is that of maintaining the voltage supplied to the motors proportional to the frequency. For instance, if a plurality of inverters are connected to a common DC source of voltage and are each connected to a separate motor for energization thereof at a different rate with respect to one another, the amplitude of the voltage applied to the motors will be equal to the amplitude of the common DC source. Consequently, only one of the motors in such a system can be operated with the amplitude of the voltage supplied thereto being proportional to the frequency. The other motors of such a system would be operated under adverse conditions, since the amplitude of the voltage supplied thereto is either lesser or greater in proportion to the frequency supplied another to produce a unitary result, it is often desirable to discontinue the operation of one of the stations while maintaining the other stations'operative. In addition, it is also desirable to be able to start a particular station at a relatively slow speed and gradually increase that speed until it matches the speed of the other stations in the entire machine. If synchronous motors are employed, it is also desirable to start such motors at a slow speed while in synchronism and to maintain the synchronous operation during increase of the speed to operating speed. The motor can be brought up to the speed of the motors of the other stations and locked into synchronism therewith during operation of the entire machine.

In many instances, during the operation of a processing machine, such as a paper making machine,one or more of the motors connected to separate stations thereof are operating as a drag on the system to maintain a proper tension in the material being processed, such as a web of paper. The particular motor which is operating under such conditions will act as a generator, rather than a motor, and will tend to supply energy back to the source. However, due to the switching devices usually employed in speed control circuits for operating such motors, such energy cannot be supplied back to the source. Since the cost of electrical power is an important factor in many processing machines, particularly in paper making machines, it would be desirable to supply power back into the source from those motors which act as generators.

In those systems which employ silicon controlled rectifiers for controlling the application of power to a motor or a plurality of motors, a major difficulty is encountered in rendering the rectifiers nonconductive. This difficulty is particularly apparent in those systems which handle large amounts of power. As a result of the difficulty encountered in rendering the rectifiers nonconductive, the accuracy of the speed of the motors is greatly reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an electronic drive system for multiple section processing machines which is capable of maintaining a fixed ratio of speed between the various sections of the machine and simultaneously capable of adjustment of the speed of the entire machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic drive system for a paper making machine which is capable of maintaining a predetermined draw between individual sections of the machine and simultaneously capable of varying the speed of the entire machine while maintaining the speed ratios between the sections fixed.

A specific object of the present invention is to provide an electronic drive system for a paper making machine which is capable of varying the speed of the entire machine by a factor of and varying the ratio between individual stations of the entire machine within a range of at least 10 percent with respect to one another.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an electronic drive system for multisection processing machine which is capable of adjusting the speed ratios between the various sections of the machine and simultaneously capable of varying the speed of the entire machine while maintaining the ratios between the various sections fixed, and in which A high resolution is obtained without the requirement of a high frequency master oscillator.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic drive system for a multisection processing machine which is not subject to erroneous operation during intervals of adjustment of the speed.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic drive system for a multisection processing machine wherein the amplitude of the voltage supplied to the individual motors of the machine is proportional to the frequency applied thereto.

And still a further object of the present invention is to provide an electronic drive system for a multisection processing machine which is capable of discontinuing the operation of one section of the machine while maintaining the other sections thereof operative and is further capable of gradually increasing the speed of one section from a complete standstill until it matches the speed of the entire machine.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic drive system for a multisection processing machine which is capable of supplying power back to the source for greater economy of operation.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an electronic drive system for a multisection processing machine which employs silicon controlled rectifiers to control the application of power to the individual motors of the machine and which is capable of supplying a pulse of sufficient power to energize the controlled rectifiers and further capable of causing the controlled rectifiers to be rendered fully nonconductive at the desired times.

A specific feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a variable frequency oscillator connected through a plurality of dividers to a respective motor of a multisection processing machine for enabling, not only control of the speed of each of the individual motors, but control of the entire machine while maintaining the ratio of the speeds between the various sections fixed.

Another feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a fixed frequency oscillator coupled in tandem with a pulse chopper to form in combination therewith a variable frequency oscillator having a very high resolution.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a register for presetting the individual dividers associated with each motor of a multisection processing machine, which register is capable of changing the divider factor without producing erroneous outputs therefrom.

Still another important feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel triggering circuit for the controlled rectifiers of an inverter which eliminates the need for connecting two static inverters in series with one another.

Yet another important feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a circuit for controlling the amplitude of the voltage supplied to the motors such that the voltage amplitude is maintained proportional to the frequency applied thereto.

And yet another important feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a runup" circuit connected to each of the motors which permits gradual increase of the motor speed from a complete standstill to the desired speed separately of the operation of the other motors in the machine.

Another important feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel feedback circuit for power which is generated by one or more of the motors, which power is fed back to the source or to the other motors of the system.

And still another important feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel circuit for the controlled rectifiers of an inverter which permits such rectifiers to be rendered completely nonconductive when desired.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention are realized by the general configuration of the present invention which broadly includes a plurality of frequency changing channels each connected between a fixed frequency source of power and a respective motor which is disposed for driving one station of a multisection processing machine and a variable frequency master oscillator connected in common to each of the channels. Each channel includes a rectifier section for converting the variable frequency voltage of the source into a direct current voltage, an inverter section connected to the output of the rectifier section, and a plurality of frequency dividers each connected to an output of the variable frequency master oscillator and to a respective inverter section. The output of each inverter section is connected to a respective motor which is disposed for driving a respective section of a multisection processing machine. In order to realize still other objects, features and advantages of the present invention, it is proposed to form the variable frequency oscillator of a fixed frequency oscillator connected in series with a pulse chopper. Other advantages are realized by the provision of a binary register uniquely connected with each of the frequency dividers for presetting the divider factor therein. Still other advantages of the present invention are realized by a novel circuit for triggering the controlled rectifiers employed in the inverter sections and which apply power to the motors.

Details of the invention and all of the objects, features, and advantages thereof, will be more fully realized and understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a paper making machine with which the electronic drive system of the present invention has particular application;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the rectifier and inverter circuits and the various control circuits therefor which provide the various advantages and features of the present invention and which are constructed in accordance with the principles ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the polyphase variable frequency circuit for controlling the inverter circuit illustrated in FIG. 2 and constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial schematic and partial block diagram of the rectifier circuit illustrated in FIG. 2 and employed for converting three-phase alternating current voltage to direct current voltage which is proportional in amplitude to the frequency of the voltage applied to the respective motor connected thereto;

FIG. 5 is a partial schematic and partial block diagram of the inverter bridge circuit illustrated in FIG. 2 which converts direct current voltage into alternating current voltage at a frequency proportional to the desired speed of rotation of the motor connected thereto;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of the waveforms of the alternating current voltage at the output of the inverter bridge circuit illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partial schematic and partial block diagram of the regenerator circuit employed in the system illustrated in FIG. 2 for supplying power back to the alternating current source when the respective motor of that channel operates as a generator;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the inverter commutation circuit employed in the system illustrated in FIG. 2 for ensuring proper commutation of the switching devices in the inverter bridge circuit connnected thereto;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the direct current voltage regulator employed in the system illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are schematic diagrams of the phase control circuits employed in the system illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of the SCR gate control circuits employed in the rectifier circuit illustrated in FIG. 4, the

inverter bridge circuit illustrated in FIG. 5, and the regenerator circuit illustrated in FIG. 7;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a control circuit employed in conjunction with the SCR gate control circuit of FIG. 12 to control the inverter bridge circuit of FIG. 5;

FIG. I4 is a block diagram of one form of a variable frequency oscillator which can be employed in the system illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of the runup speed control employed in the system illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of the runup multivibrator employed in the speed control system illustrated in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of the clock control flip-flop employed in the speed control circuit illustrated in FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a block diagram of the speed control logic employed in the system illustrated in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of the multiphase generator employed in the system illustrated in FIG. 3.

Like reference numerals throughout the various views of the drawings are intended to designate the same or similar elements.

The schematic illustration of FIG. 1 represents the various sections of a paper making machine which may be driven by an electronic drive system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. In particular, the papermaking machine is generally formed of a Fourdrinier section 25, a first press section 26, a second press section 27, a third press section 28, a first dryer section 29, a second dryer section 30, a calender section 31, and a winder 32. Each of these sections may be driven by one or more motors energized from an electronic drive system or speed-control system.

As set forth hereinabove, provision must be made for changing the speed of the paper machine, either uniformly of the machine as a whole or of any section independently of others. Every particular type and weight of paper, coupled with the stock from which it is made, has a definite speed best suited to the requirements of that paper. Variations in both the stock furnished and the treatment given it has an influence on the speed at which machines can be run. The speeds of the various sections of these machines also must be adjustable, but independently of each other. When the sheet is wet and passes through the presses 26, 27, and 28, it stretches lengthwise and contracts sidewise. During the last stage of drying in the second dryer section 30, the sheet contracts both ways. Thus, the second and third presses 27 and 28 must run faster than the first press 26, and the last section of the dryers, second dryer 30, must run more slowly than the preceding section. These differential changes often must be altered repeatedly during the initial startup of the paper machine and the alteration must be continued until the machine settles down. This settling down may also take several hours after changing over from one grade of paper to a very different one.

The term draw" refers to the tension of the paper between sections of a paper machine. When a change in the tension tightens the sheet too much, the paper will break unless an adjustment in the speed is made to compensate for the change. If the draw slackens, other troubles occur such as wrinkling. Once a machine is set to produce a sheet of paper at the right speed, of great importance is the maintenance of constant operating conditions. I

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the rectifier and inverter circuits and the various control circuits associated therewith for converting a voltage from a common voltage source of 60 Hertz into a voltage of desired frequency, which voltage is proportional in its amplitude to the frequency and the desired frequency is proportional to the desired rotational speed of the motor. The arrangement illustrated in FIG. 2 is employed for driving only one motor of the processing machine. Each motor which operates at a speed different from the speed of all the other motors requires its own individual rectifier and inverter channel, such as the one illustrated in FIG. 2. Identical arrangements to that illustrated in FIG. 2 are employed for each motor which is to be driven at a different speed. If two or more motors are driven at the same speed, the same rectifier and inverter channel, such as the one illustrated in FIG. 2, may be employed for all such motors. For instance, two or more motors can be connected at an output of the circuit illustrated in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, a rectifier circuit 33 is connected at its inputs to a three-phase alternating current source of 60 hertz on the lines 34, 35 and 36. The rectifier circuit 33 converts the alternating current voltage at its input into direct current voltage at its output and delivers such pulsating DC voltage onto the lines 37 and 38. A direct current circuit 39 filters the voltage on the lines 37 and 38 develops a direct current voltage of constant amplitude on the output lines 40 and 41 thereof.

The direct current voltage on the lines 40 and 41 is connected through an inverter commutation circuit 42 to an inverter bridge 43. The inverter bridge 43 converts the direct current voltage on the lines 40 and 41 into three-phase alternating current voltage at any desired frequency on lines 44, 45 and 46. The frequency of the voltage supplied by the inverter bridge 43 is controlled by a polyphase frequency source 47 connected thereto. The frequency of the voltage at the output of the inverter bridge 43 is proportional to the speed at which a synchronous motor 48 connected thereto is to be driven. Adjustment of the frequency source 47 changes the frequency of the inverter 43 output and accordingly changes the rotational speed of the motor 48. If the motor 48 is to be operated in synchronism through a wide speed and frequency range, the voltage applied thereto must be maintained at a predetermined amplitude which is proportional to such frequency. In order to permit the rectifier circuit 33 to deliver a direct current voltage having an amplitude which is proportional to the frequency of the voltage connected to the motor 48, a feedback loop is employed for controlling the conduction cycles of the rectifier circuit 33. The feedback loop includes a direct current regulator 49 having respective inputs thereof connected to an output of the polyphase frequency source 47 and to the direct current circuit 39. A voltage is produced at an output 50 of the DC regulator 49 which is proportional to the frequency of the polyphase frequency source 47. The output on the line 50 is connnected to a rectifier phase control circuit 51 which controls the firing angle of the controlled rectifiers within the rectifier circuit 33 in accordance with such output of the DC regulator 49. This described feedback arrangement permits continuous monitoring of the frequency of the voltage applied to the motor and variation of the amplitude of that voltage. Since the direct current voltage at the output of the rectifier circuit 33 is varied in accordance with the established frequency and such voltage is supplied to the inverter bridge 43, the output voltage of the inverter 43 will be varied accordingly.

Since the consumption of power contributes to a large extent to the cost of operating many processing machines, such as a paper making machine, it is often desirable to be able to feed energy back into the common 60 hertz source. Feeding back energy into the source can occur when a particular motor, such as one of the motors 48, is producing a drag in the processing machine and performs as a generator. However, the feeding back of energy into the 60 hertz source has, until this time, not been feasible due to the switching arrangement employed in the inverter and rectifier circuits of the prior known systems.

The present invention overcomes this difficulty by the provision of a regenerator circuit 52 connected between the DC voltage on the lines 40 and 41 and the 60 hertz source of voltage on the lines 34, 35 and 36. The inverter bridge 43, as will be explained hereinbelow, is constructed to permit the flow of current from the lines 44, 45 and 46 to the lines 40 and 41. However, the current which is generated by the motor 48 cannot pass through the rectifier circuit 33. Consequently, the reverse flow of current is sensed by a current regulator 53 which in turn controls a regenerator phase control 54 in accordance with the reversal of current in the direct current circuit 39. The phase control 54 controls the firing of the controlled rectifiers within the regenerator circuit 52 to permit the flow of current from the lines 40 and 41 to the lines 34, 35 and 36. Consequently, whenever the motor 48 is acting as a generator due to the operation of the processing machine in which it is employed, current can be fed back to the 60 hertz source for conserving energy. It can be readily appreciated that, since a plurality of circuits each identical to the one illustrated in FIG. 2 are employed, energy will not necessarily be supplied back to the 60 hertz source, but rather-to another rectifier and inverter circuit associated with another motor of the processing machine.

With reference to FIG. 3, there is shown a schematic diagram of one preferred form of the polyphase frequency sources 47 which are employed to control the frequency of the output voltage from the inverter bridges 43. Since a plurality of channels or polyphase frequency sources 47 are illustrated in FIG. 3, like reference numerals will be employed to designate the same elements in respective channels, and the letter a will be employed with those numerals designating elements of channel A and the letter b will be employed with those numerals designating the same elements of channel B. A variable frequency master oscillator 55 is common to all of the channels connected to all of the motors employed for driving the multisection processing machine.

The variable frequency oscillator 55 provides an output on a line 56 which consists of a series of pulses. These pulses from the output of the oscillator 55 reoccur at a relatively high frequency of, for example, 1 megahertz. The variable frequency oscillator 55, which forms the master control for the system, may take the form of various structures, including, but not limited to the following:

I. A variable frequency oscillator, such as 1. An LC oscillator with a variable L,

2. An LC oscillator with a variable C,

3. A bridged T or parallel T or phase shift oscillator with a variable R or C, 4. A bridged T or parallel T or phase shift oscillator with a variable R or L,

5. Variable relaxation oscillators,

6. Variable multivibrators, and

7. Variable integrators;

II. A fixed frequency oscillator followed by dividing, hetrodyning, and filtering circuits in the arrangement known in the electronics field as digital frequency synthesis;

III. A fixed frequency oscillator followed by analogue counting circuits acting as a variable analogue divider;

IV. A variable oscillator forced to match the divided output of a fixed oscillator by means of a servo loop; and

V. A fixed frequency oscillator followed by digital counting circuit acting as a variable digital divider.

The fixed frequency oscillators mentioned above may be formed by mechanical resonant oscillators, such as a fork oscillator, magnetostrictive oscillators, piezoelectric crystal oscillators, LC resonant oscillators, RC or RL phase shift oscillators including bridge types, parallel T and bridged T, and relaxation oscillators.

There are several methods for accomplishing digital division of the output frequency of a fixed frequency oscillator, includmg:

I. A circuit which creates one output pulse for every N input pulses: and

II. A circuit which eliminates N of every M input pulses allowing M-N pulses to appear as output pulses therefrom.

The output from the variable frequency oscillator 55 on the line 56 is connected to an input of a runup speed control circuit 57. The runup" speed control circuits 57a and 57b permit the respective motors 48a and 48b to be gradually increased from a standstill to operating speed while maintaining synchronous operation. The operation of the runup speed control circuits 57a and 57b will be explained in greater detail hereinbelow. An output of the speed control circuit 57 is connected to a divider circuit 58 which is connected to a plurality of gates represented by the block generally designated with the reference numeral 59.

The gates 59 are connected to the divider circuit 58 for setting the division factor therein. The gates 59 are provided with a preset number from a preset register 60 which, when that number is reached in the division, provides one or more output pulses from the divider circuit 58. The preset established by the gates 59 is altered by a signal supplied thereto from the preset register 60. The registers 60 are stepped in one direction or the other for changing the preset number by means of an individual register adjust circuit 61. If the preset in the gates 59 is not changed during the time when an output pulse is delivered at an output of the dividers 58, no ambiguities will result due to the change being effected therein. This result is accomplished by circuitry which will be explained hereinbelow.

The preset number which is established by the preset register 60 is displayed on a panel 62. When a change is to be effected in the division factor of the dividers 58, the register adjust circuit 61 is actuated and the change is effected through the preset registers 60 and the gates 59. This change is reflected visually by the panels 62.

The output of the dividers 58 is connected to a multiphase generator 63 which preferably produces a six-phase output signal for ultimately producing a three-phase bipolar signal for connection to the individual motors. The six-phase signal from the multiphase generator 63 is connected to the inverter bridges 43 for converting the DC voltage on the lines 40 and 41 into a three-phase bipolar voltage on the lines 44, 45 and 46.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 of the present invention provides all of the functions and relationships required by the paper machine illustrated in FIG. 1. By adjustment of the output of the variable frequency oscillator 55, the speed of the entire machine can be adjusted while the ratio of the speeds between the individual sections remains constant. Furthermore, if the draw between sections of the processing machine must be changed, adjustment of one of the dividers 58 can be effected for changing the speed of the respective section of the machine without altering the speed of the other sections. As s previously mentioned, this adjustment is effected through the preset registers 60.

FIG. 4 is a partial schematic and partial block diagram of the rectifier circuit illustrated in FIG. 2 which is employed for converting three phase alternating current voltage to direct current voltage. The three-phase voltage from the common source of power is supplied to the lines 34, 35 and 36 and is converted to direct current voltage on the lines 37 and 38. Since each phase of the common source of power on each of the lines 34, 35 and 36 is connected to the lines at 37, 38 through identical circuits, the same reference numeral will be employed to designate the same structures with the letters a through f employed to distinguish the elements on the drawings having the same reference numerals.

Each of the lines 34, 35 and 36 are connected through a diode 64 and a silicon controlled rectifier 65 in series with one another to the line 37, with the diodes 64a-c and the siliconcontrolled rectifiers 65ac being poled to produce a positive voltage on the line 37. Each of the lines 34, 35 and 36 are also connected through diodes 64d-f and the silicon-controlled rectifiers 65df in series with one another to the line 38. However, the diodes 64d--f and the silicon-controlled rectifiers 65df are poled to produce a negative voltage on the line 38 with respect to the voltage produced on the line 37.

A resistor 66 is connected in parallel with the diode 64 and a resistor 67 is connected in parallel with the silicon-controlled rectifier 65. A gate control circuit 68 is connected to the gate electrode of the'silicon-controlled rectifier 65 to control the firing angle or conduction cycle thereof. A source of power at a predetermined frequency F is connected to the gate control circuit 68 at a terminal 69. The gate control circuit 68 is connected in parallel with the series connected diode 64 and SCR65 through a resistor 70 to sense the voltage on the anode of the SCR6S. Another input of the gate control circuit 68 is connected to an output of a phase control circuit 71, which is in turn connected to the direct current regulator 49 via a terminal 73 and to a source of power of predetermined frequency F on a terminal 74. The phase control circuits 71a and 71d are connected to the line 34 by means of a resistor 72a to provide the proper phase relationship between an output thereof and the phase existing on the line 34. In a similar manner, the phase control circuits 71b and 71:: are connected to the line 35 by means of a resistor 72b and the phase control circuits 71c and 71 f are connected to the line 36 by means of a resistor 720.

The phase control circuit 71 determines the point at which the silicon-controlled rectifier 65 will fire and the gate control circuit 68 provides a high-energy pulse at the proper instant to fire the silicon control rectifier 65.

FIG. is a partial schematic and partial block diagram of inverter bridge circuit 43 illustrated in the block diagram of the FIG. 2 and employed for converting direct voltage to threephase alternating current voltage having a desired frequency.

In FIG. 4, a direct current voltage is developed on the lines 37 and 38 which is supplied, as shown in FIG. 2, to a direct current circuit 39 which may include, for example, several large capacitors for storing the charge of the direct current voltage thereon. The output of the direct current circuit 39 on lines 40 and 41 is also a direct current voltage.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the direct current voltage on the lines 40 and 41 is converted into a three-phase alternating current voltage on the lines 44, 45 and 46 which are in turn connected to the motor 48. With the exception of the inverter commutation circuit 42 being connected in series with the line 40, the lines 40 and 41 are connected through identical circuits to the lines 44, 45 and to 46. Consequently, the same reference numerals will be employed to designate the same structures in FIG. 5 with the letters a through f employed to distinguish the elements on the drawing having the same reference numeral. The inverter commutation circuit 42 is connected in series between the line 40 and a line 75 and provides a voltage pulse for rendering the silicon-controlled rectifiers in the inverter bridge circuit 43 nonconductive at the desired times. Accordingly, the silicon control rectifiers employed in the inverter bridge circuit 43 will not have indefinite turn off at times as is common in the prior art and will be rendered nonconductive at a definite time as prescribed by the inverter commutation circuit 42. The operation of the inverter commutation circuit 42 is explained in greater detail in the detailed description of the FIG. 8.

The line 75 is connected to each of the lines 44, 45 and 46 by means of a diode 76 and a silicon-controlled rectifier 77 connected in series with one another. A resistor 78 is connected in parallel with the silicon-controlled rectifier 77. The diodes 76ac and the silicon control rectifiers 77a-c are poled to permit positive current flow from line 75 to each of the lines 44, 45 and 46 respectively. An SCR gate control circuit 80 is connected to the gate electrode of the silicon control rectifier 77 to control the firing angle or conduction cycle thereof. The gate control circuit 80 is connected in parallel with the series connected diode 76 and SCR 77 through a resistor 81 to sense the voltage on the anode of the SCR 77. A source of power at a predetermined frequency F is connected to the gate control circuit 80 at a terminal 82.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the polyphase frequency source 47 is connected to the inverter bridge 43 to control the frequency of the voltage developed on the lines 44, 45 and 46. The polyphase frequency source 47 therefore, produces a plurality of voltages which are employed for controlling the conduction cycle of each of the silicon-controlled rectifiers 77af illustrated in FIG. 5. In particular, the polyphase frequency source 47 produces six signals which are connected to a respective one of the gate control circuits 80a-f by means of the terminals 83a--f. With the exception of the inputs on the terminals 83af, the gate control circuits 80a--f illustrated in FIG. 5 are identical to the gate control circuits 60a-f illustrated in FIG. 4.

As mentioned above, the diodes 76a,-c and the silicon-controlled rectifiers 77a-c are poled to permit positive current flow from the line 75 to the lines 44, 45 and 46 respectively. On the other hand, the diodes 76d-f and the silicon-controlled rectifiers 77d-f are poled to permit positive current flow from the lines 44, 45 and 46 respectively to the line 41.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, tow signals are supplied simultaneously from the polyphase frequency source 47 to the inverter bridge circuit 43, such that a nearly sinusoidal voltage appears on lines 44, 45 and 46. In particular, each of the silicon-controlled rectifiers 77 are rendered conductive for a period during each 360 cycle. In the present structure, SCR 77a and 77e are made conductive during a first 60 portion of a cycle; SCR 770 and 77f are made conductive during a second 60 portion; the SCR 77b and 77 f are made conductive during a third 60 portion; etc. In this fashion, a nearly sinusoidal approximation is achieved of the voltage developed on lines 44, 45 and 46. 

1. An electronic drive system for a multisection processing machine capable of maintaining a fixed ratio of speed between various sections of the machine and allowing simultaneous adjustment of the entire machine comprising: a plurality of driving means each connected to drive a different section of said machine; a source of three-phase alternating power; a plurality of rectifier circuits each connected to said source of alternating power whereby to convert the three-phase alternating power to direct current; a plurality of direct current circuits each connected to one of said plurality of rectifier circuits so as to filter the output of the rectifier and provide a feedback signal; a plurality of inverter commutation circuits respectively connected to the outputs of said direct current circuits for providing a commutation control; a plurality of inverter bridges each providing outputs to said plurality of driving means and whereby the oUtputs vary in amplitude and frequency, said plurality of inverter bridges receiving the outputs of said direct current circuits through said inverter commutation circuits; a plurality of polyphase frequency sources for controlling the frequency and amplitude of the inputs to each driving means and supplying outputs to said inverter bridges and said inverter commutation circuits; a plurality of direct current regulators each receiving inputs from one of said plurality of polyphase frequency sources and from one of said direct current circuits so as to develop a feedback amplitude control signal; and a plurality of rectifier phase control circuits each receiving the output of said one of said DC regulators, and supplying an input to one of said rectifier circuits whereby the amplitude of the rectifier circuits is controlled such that each of said plurality of driving means operates at a speed proportional to the output of the respective polyphase frequency source to which it is connected.
 2. An electronic drive system according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of driving means comprise alternating current synchronous motors.
 3. An electronic drive system according to claim 2 wherein the alternating current motors are polyphase motors.
 4. An electronic drive system according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of inverter commutation circuits produces a polyphase output.
 5. An electronic drive system for a multisection processing machine according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of polyphase frequency sources comprise: a variable frequency oscillator; a plurality of dividers which receive outputs from said variable frequency oscillator to divide the frequency to a predetermined value; a plurality of gates connected to said plurality of dividers; a plurality of preset registers connected to said plurality of gates; a plurality of multiphase generators connected to the outputs of said dividers whereby the outputs thereof comprise desired frequencies; and the outputs of said multiphase generators connected to said plurality of inverter bridges.
 6. An electronic drive system according to claim 5 wherein the means for controlling the dividing factor of each divider gate comprises, a plurality of preset registers connected to each divider gate.
 7. An electronic drive system according to claim 6 comprising register-adjusting means connected to each preset register.
 8. An electronic drive system according to claim 1 including a regenerator circuit connected across the input of one of said inverter bridges and supplying an output to said source of alternating power and current regulator and regenerator phase control means connected to the output of said direct current circuit and supplying an input to said regenerator circuit.
 9. An electronic drive system according to claim 1 wherein said polyphase frequency source comprises a plurality of frequency converting stages each having an output generator, a divider gate connected to the input of each output generator, means for controlling the dividing factor of the divider gate, and a variable frequency source connected to each of the divider gates.
 10. An electronic drive system according to claim 5, wherein one of a plurality of ''''runup'''' speed controls is connected between each divider gate and the variable frequency oscillator so as to bring a particular driving means up to its operating speed.
 11. An electronic drive system according to claim 1 wherein each of said rectifiers comprises a plurality of input leads and a pair of output leads, the alternating power source connected to the input leads, a first SCR connected between one of the input leads and one of the output leads, a second SCR connected between the one of the input leads and the other output lead and gate control means connected to the first and second SCR''s.
 12. An electronic drive system according to claim 11 comprising a third SCR connected between a secOnd input lead and the one output lead, and a fourth SCR connected between the second input lead and the second output lead.
 13. An electronic drive system according to claim 12 comprising a fifth SCR connected between a third input lead and the one output lead, and a sixth SCR connected between the third input lead and the second output lead.
 14. An electronic drive system according to claim 13 wherein the gate control means is connected to the third, fourth, fifth and sixth SCR''s.
 15. An electronic drive system according to claim 1 wherein each of said inverter bridges have a pair of input lines with one line connected to a source of direct current power and the other connected to an inverter commutation circuit, three output leads between which alternating polyphase voltages occur, first unilateral current means connected between the one input line and to each of the three output leads, second unilateral current means connected between the input of the inverter commutation circuit and to each of the three output leads, a first SCR connected between one of the input leads and one of the output leads, a second SCR connected between one of the input leads and a second of the output leads, a third SCR connected between one of the input leads and the third of the output leads, a fourth SCR connected between the second input lead and one of the output leads, a fifth SCR connected between the second input lead and the second output lead, a sixth SCR connected between the second input lead and the third output lead, and gate control means connected to the first through sixth SCR''s.
 16. An electronic drive system according to claim 15 wherein one of the polyphase frequency sources is connected to the gate control means.
 17. An electronic drive system for a multisection processing machine capable of maintaining a fixed ratio of speed between various sections of the machine and allowing simultaneous adjustment of the entire machine comprising: a plurality of driving means each connected to drive a different section of said machine; a source of three-phase alternating power; a plurality of rectifier circuits each connected to said source of alternating power whereby to convert the three-phase alternating power to direct current; a plurality of inverter bridges each providing outputs to said plurality of driving means and whereby the outputs vary in amplitude with frequency; a plurality of polyphase frequency sources for controlling the frequency and amplitude of the inputs to each driving means; a plurality of direct current regulators and phase control circuits each connected to one of said polyphase frequency sources and supplying an input to one of said rectifier circuits whereby the amplitude of said rectifier circuit varies as a function of the frequency of said one of said polyphase sources; the outputs of each of said rectifier circuits connected to one of said plurality of inverter bridges to produce an output with a frequency and amplitude suitable for driving one of said plurality of driving means; and a plurality of regenerator circuits connected to the outputs of one of said plurality of direct current circuits and with their outputs connected to the source of three-phase alternating power to supply regenerative power to the system when a particular driving means is producing regenerative power.
 18. An electronic drive system according to claim 17 wherein said regenerator circuit converts direct current power to polyphase power and comprises a pair of input lines and three output lines; a first SCR connected between one input line and a first output line; a second SCR connected between one input line and a second output line, a third SCR connected between one input line and a third output line, a fourth SCR connected between the second input line and one output line, a fifth SCR connected between the second input line and a second output line, a sixth SCR connected betwEen the second input line and the third output line, and gate control means connected to the first through sixth SCR''s to convert the direct current power to polyphase power.
 19. An electronic drive system according to claim 18 comprising phase control means connected to the gate control means.
 20. An electronic drive system according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of inverter commutation circuits has a first input lead and a first output lead, an unilateral current device, and an electronic gate device connected in series between the first input and first output leads, a gate control connected to the electronic gate device, and a second opposite poled unilateral current device connected in parallel between the first input and output leads.
 21. An electronic drive system according to claim 1 wherein each of said rectifier phase control circuits comprises: an electronic device; variable biasing means for the electronic device; and a control circuit connected in circuit with the variable biasing means and the electronic device to control the phase of the output signal of the electronic device.
 22. An electronic drive system according to claim 11 wherein said gate control means comprises a pair of output terminals, an electronic gate device connected across the output terminals, a biasing circuit connected to the gate electrode of the electronic gate device, an input terminal, an alternating input signal supplied to the input terminal, means for converting the input signal to a plurality of pulses of the same polarity, a capacitor to which the plurality of pulses is applied, a multivibrator connected between the biasing circuit and the capacitor, and sensing means in circuit with the multivibrator to couple the signal on the capacitor to the multivibrator.
 23. An electronic drive system according to claim 9 wherein said frequency converting stages comprise pulse chopping means which eliminate certain input pulses from the output.
 24. An electronic drive system according to claim 23 wherein said pulse chopping means comprise: a fixed frequency oscillator; a counter connected to the output of the fixed frequency oscillator; an AND gate connected to the output of the fixed frequency oscillator; preset gates connected to the counter; a binary stage connected to the counter and the preset gates; and the binary stage connected to said AND gate.
 25. An electronic drive system according to claim 10 wherein said ''''runup'''' speed control comprises: an AND gate connected to the variable frequency source; a flip-flop circuit with its output connected to the AND gate; and a multivibrator connected to said flip-flop circuit.
 26. An electronic drive system according to claim 1 including a plurality of current regulators each connected to one of said plurality of direct current circuits, a plurality of regenerator phase control circuits connected to each of said current regulators and supplying an input to one of said regenerator circuits, whereby power produced by said driving means when in a regenerative condition is fed back to said source of three-phase alternating power. 